Life Lessons learned… September 25, 2009
Posted by crystalcraven in Inspirational, Personal.Tags: burdens, God, Jesus, lessons
comments closed
With Life i have come to learn a few things….
Don’t fret over the small things in life…..Just remember That God will supply your needs if you believe and follow him…Even when life seems so overwhelming just hand it over to him and things will be okay.
Life is as hard or as easy as we perceive it to be. I have often wondered many times in my life how some people are able to handle so many things and so much stress…If you sit down and worry all day long what has that accomplished you? NOTHING. so don’t do it..its better to chip away and work on the problems laid before you then to worry about problems that you have tomorrow or any other day. ROME wasn’t built in a day and your problems may not be solved in a day but if you keep working hard then eventually you will see the progress…
Don’t be scared to tell people NO. IF you seriously can’t do something or help with others needs then don’t. Sometimes we do need to be a little selfish while its great and a real and true blessing to help others and their needs if you continually are there to bail them out of their situations who is going to be there to bail you out when you are suffering because you were to busy worrying about their needs? The only thing you are doing is enabling them and becoming that crutch for them. SO help them by saying NO (sometimes) at the same time if you are able to help out with someone occasionally you really should. They may repay it later by helping you out if you ever need it.
Remember No one’s problems are too big for God…He died on the cross for us. He can sure help you out of any problem, situation at ANYTIME but first you have to be willing to take that burden and give it to him and not pick it up again… When we pick it up your in fact telling God that HE ISN’T CAPABLE of handling it and you are more capable of doing it which we are not… and then thats when we fall flat on our face. Yet again, I know-I know I am no better because I have done this many times myself BUT I have to keep reminding myself to lay it at Jesus’ feet and leave it there and let him handle it for me..
ITs not easy as a people because we like to be in control of the situation. In order to relinquish control over our problems and give them to our heavenly father is an extremely difficult thing to do. However, we must do it none the less.
THANKS FOR READING MAY GOD BLESS YOU 
Say Hey its a good day! September 17, 2009
Posted by crystalcraven in Personal, Spiritual Journey.Tags: agape, Depression, good day, Jesus, John, love, Peter, philo, sheep
comments closed
Work is going well….Starting to get the hang of it…However I have to keep reminding myself that this is only temporary..Saving up to Retake my Certification exam (again) for medical assistant.
I’m doing a bit better both Emotionally and Spiritually. I have taken a beating but I’m coming back up more stronger than Ever. I still have my moments but I’m doing pretty good for the most part, Praise JESUS!
Jesus woke me up this morning so I took that cue to read the word of God I turned to the book of John where Jesus asked peter if he loved him..These words keep ringing in my head…
“IF YOU LOVE ME FOLLOW ME…IF YOU LOVE ME FEED MY SHEEP….”
I love it when Jesus speaks to me so clearly.
AMEN!
Taking this cue to move forward with helping others. I just have to remember when I’m pouring into others I have to be poured into as well…. and I have to remember to stay Humble and have Humility.
Everybody’s Hurting so hold on September 5, 2009
Posted by crystalcraven in Inspirational, Personal.Tags: God Strengthens the weak, hold on, Struggles
comments closed
Well, Sorry I haven’t had anything much to write about. I have a new Job now and I have been so busy working on that. Praise God for Answered prayers. It took awhile to realize I needed to do more then the obvious things for Christ but I also needed to figure a way to support myself and my children. Standing on my own two feet without asking for handouts. It does say in the bible those able to work and not working should go hungry (or something to that affect) So now I feel better about myself that I am earning an honest living albeit difficult at times and the hours are long on some of the days during the week but at least I do not have to worry about working on Sunday’s and most Saturdays I will have off too. So that’s good. For the most part its during school hours maybe a few hours after. Thank God for moms and dads whom are watching after my two littlest ones.
But, My friends and those I know that are living as living sacrifices for Christ seems to be suffering lately. I know that the devil is fighting us hardcore right now and I can’t keep but thinking Maranatha! Please come quickly Lord!
I know noone knows when the end times will actually be and when that day will be but I keep getting the feeling that its sooner than later, that soon we will be in the skies with our Jesus as the world is made over new! I can’t wait for that day!
Friends, Family and anyone else who is suffering and going through things maybe things you thought you were once over and you just don’t understand why…Just hold on. Remember the song by R.E.M. Everybody hurts…hold on….That is what you need to do…hold on to your faith and trust that Jesus will get you through any storm or situation.
I am suffering too. I just keep holding on for a better tomorrow and that’s all we can do..That and pray. Seek him in all things!
Prayers to my family and friends. I’m thinking of you!
Remember this Verse
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
~Deuteronomy 31:6
“Crystal, Be amazing!” August 24, 2009
Posted by crystalcraven in Personal.Tags: Book Writing
comments closed
I got up extra early this morning and asked God to tell me why he woke me up. All of a sudden the book that I have been writing, about my struggle to find Christ and the life I lived before I knew him kept burning in me to write. I even tried to avoid it this morning by going back to bed. To no avail, I had to get up and write. Even if it sounds awful I said to myself I have to get this on paper. Not that my story is all that good but the story of how God came into my life and has worked through me and in me for the year is where I want to get at. So I finished chapter 1 and I think I’m half way through with Chapter 2. I’m not even sure if my story makes any sense and I worry from straying away from the main idea and that is How God delivered me and transformed my life. I’m so scared to focus on the things I have done or been through but I then on the other hand I feel as though it will lose something If I fail to mention it. So I’m struggling with that not to mention I’m not the best with sentence structure. I’m sure I make tons of mistakes on these blogs. I’m so critical on myself but I write how I talk which was never the best either. I’m specifically remembering my friend, Kim (who is a published book writer- I guess you call that an author right *lol*) correcting my speech on more than one occasion when we were teenagers. Maybe I need to get one of those programs that does Grammatical error checks and not just spell check. So what was the point of this blog? I think I have completely went off on a rampage of why I am not a good writer instead of focusing on the good things.
Wishing to take a Creative Writing course and public speaking somehow someway. I know if that’s God’s will he will send me confirmation and the means to do so. So just trying to keep an open mind to these things.
Remembering What Angela Thomas signed in the book of hers I got from Extraordinary Women’s Conference this past year after I told her my story of becoming a single mom. It says Crystal BE AMAZING!
I want to be Amazing! I want to be amazing now! I have to remember though its in God’s Timing and not mine.
That’s all for now!
Journey out of food addiction starts now! August 22, 2009
Posted by crystalcraven in Personal, Weight Loss.Tags: Gluttony, God's Weight loss plan, Gwen Shamblin, Idoletry, Idols, Weigh down diet, Worship
comments closed
Romans 12:1-2 says, And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living sacrifice-the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
We all desire to be “perfect” in some form or fashion. I know I do. I dream of the thin version of me. I have struggled with my weight all of my life since the age of 8 I have tried all kinds of fad diets and struggled through all kinds of depression due to the fact that I was not happy with my body. But I now realize there is a REASON why none of those “fad-diets” didn’t work..Even the one I created on my own which initially worked but I couldn’t “STICK TO IT” …see in order to lose weight it has to be a lifestyle change you almost have to have a new way of thinking just at it mentions in Romans 12:2. Those fad-diets became my worship. I worshiped them instead of God! Then I worshiped the Food that was in my refrigerator instead of the Eternal Bread of Life.
About 10 years ago, I found the “Weigh down Diet by Gwen Shamblin” However, 10 years ago I was not at the place I am now. I was not willing to “GIVE IT ALL TO GOD”. I was not willing to have a relationship with God like I am now. I wasn’t even saved 10 years ago! So needless to say without the time spent reading God’s word the diet did not last very long.
However, As of Thursday Night, I have been actively following The weigh down program to the best of my ability and already I have seen amazing changes both in my walk with Christ and the big bad scale that I use to dread standing on. I have lost 4 pounds so far. I feel this is a wonderful program. I urge everyone who is struggling with their addiction to food to TRY IT.
If others can do it So Can I! Below is a picture I took of myself today no longer hiding my shameful self so God can use it for his Glory as I take the correct steps to lose this weight, I will write again every month or so while on this journey so you can see the progress I have made! That is how much Faith I have in God to help me change! IF I can do this, SO can you!
Beginning on my weight loss journey
http://www.weighdown.com
Free Video Lessons & Testimonials @ http://www.youtube.com/weighdownworkshop
My Jesus August 19, 2009
Posted by crystalcraven in Inspirational.Tags: Christianity, Get rich, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Lyrics, My Jesus, Rich, Todd Agnew
comments closed
More people need to realize that True Christianity is not to look proud or boastful. Its not to be blessed with Money and the riches of this world but True Christianity is a call to be imitators of Christ. What did Christ do? Did he go around town riding around in style? No. did he have tons of money? NO. What did He do for us? He gave his own life to Save ours. YET so many Christians Walk around not helping others, Not acknowledging others hardships or pain. ALL they can do is show off there Million dollar homes,cars and jewelery and Pray for you. The Bible Calls us to ACTION not Passivity. We must use whatever wealth we have for the Glory of his Kingdom. Remember our Riches we have is not really ours its God’s and must be Used for God’s Greater purpose….I’m not saying we can’t have what we need to live no not at all but I’m saying that I see way to many getting richer and not helping out Where they could be helping out….
Which Jesus do you follow?
Which Jesus do you serve?
If Ephesians says to imitate Christ
Then why do you look so much like the world?
Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the arrogant
So which one do you want to be?
Blessed are the poor in spirit
Or do we pray to be blessed with the wealth of this land
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness
Or do we ache for another taste of this world of shifting sand
Cause my Jesus bled and died for my sins
He spent His time with thieves and sluts and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the rich
So which one do you want to be?
Who is this that you follow
This picture of the American dream
If Jesus was here would you walk right by on the other side or fall down and worship at His holy feet
Pretty blue eyes and curly brown hair and a clear complexion
Is how you see Him as He dies for Your sins
But the Word says He was battered and scarred
Or did you miss that part
Sometimes I doubt we’d recognize Him
Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and the least of these
He loved the poor and accosted the comfortable
So which one do you want to be?
Cause my Jesus would never be accepted in my church
The blood and dirt on His feet might stain the carpet
But He reaches for the hurting and despises the proud
I think He’d prefer Beale St. to the stained glass crowd
And I know that He can hear me if I cry out loud
I want to be like my Jesus!
I want to be like my Jesus!
I want to be like my Jesus!
I want to be like my Jesus!
Not a poster child for American prosperity, but like my Jesus
You see I’m tired of living for success and popularity
I want to be like my Jesus but I’m not sure what that means to be like You Jesus
Cause You said to live like You, love like You but then You died for me
Can I be like You Jesus?
I want to be like you Jesus!
I want to be like my Jesus!
~A Song By Todd Agnew
A Worthless Child of God? August 14, 2009
Posted by crystalcraven in Inspirational.Tags: creation, death, Depression, disease, God, healing, purpose, sickness, worthless
comments closed
Today we are going to look at the following Verse:
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.~ Psalm 139:14
Have you ever felt like putting yourself down? I’m not talking about things that can be changed like your weight or your clothes but I’m talking more or less the things you were born with. Maybe you have curly hair and you long for straight or maybe you have a lot of freckles. Maybe you learn at a slower pace than your peers, or maybe you were born deaf or blind and you just keep name calling to yourself and putting yourself down. You may even do it unknowingly because it has become such a habit or maybe you do it thinking, “If I put myself down before others gets a chance it will hurt less!” I know I use to think like that and from time to time I still catch myself starting too because its so much of a habit and I have done it all my life that I don’t put much thought into it. But I urge you to stop saying those negative things maybe replace it with the verse from above or every time you catch yourself even THINKING those thoughts just say ,I’m God’s Child and He created me this way for a reason Greater than my understanding but that its for His Glory.” Remember you are Perfect even in your affliction! Don’t Give up Striving For the goals you need to reach either because you think you are less than the “average” person.
If you say, yeah but……I just want you to stop right there and think of it this way. Ask yourselves these questions:
- Just because (fill in the blank with a person who gave up on you) “gives up” does that mean you are to give up on yourself?
- Do you think God would give up on you?
- Did you know that when you give up on yourself you are basically telling God his Creation is worthless??
- Are you telling God the human being he Created for a GREATER purpose is CRAP?
God Created Everything for a reason, Some people may go through things and the WHY I can only answer a part of the why and that is to Glorify God.
God uses the weak to confound the strong! He will use you at your weakest and most vulnerable time in your life to encourage and strengthen others.
The other half is beyond my knowledge and I have yet to find anyone who can answer that but in a way I answer that with a bible verse.
Our Ways is not His ways, and His ways are not our ways and his ways is passed finding out! So we may never know Here on earth anyway why some things are but why if you are saved and lived the life God has planned for you I’m sure you can ask him when we get there!
Taking Care of the Battlefield to ensure Victory August 5, 2009
Posted by crystalcraven in Inspirational.Tags: 1 Peter, 1 Peter 5:8, battlefield, Devil, God, Jesus, mind
comments closed
Today we are going to look at 1 Peter5:8 and this verse has came to me at none other than a Great time! here is what it says:
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
When you are following God’s Chosen Path for you don’t think its going to be easy, its not you will be tempted and tried by the Devil more than you will ever know. You must be on guard you must be alert to the trickery of the devil. But don’t fret if the devil is trying to grab your legs he obviously doesn’t have you! Praise God for it! Just you can not be naive and you must realize that the devil is out there waiting to trip you up and grab hold of your life!
When you spend time in prayer,worship and in the word you will be more alert and aware of the cunning ways of the devil! The battlefield for the devil however is not in the physical world but its in your mind. Its the thoughts you think and the only person who can bring to life the thoughts is yourself. So to know what is wrong and what is right in the eyes of God is very important. That is why its important to keep a sharp mind. keep your mind in good health. Get plenty of sleep at night, eat properly, and don’t be on drugs or drinks that alter the state of your mind. If you do those things you will have the upper hand in fighting and resisting off the devils taunts.
a test, at the crossroads. July 30, 2009
Posted by crystalcraven in Personal.Tags: desire, flesh, sin, Struggles, test
comments closed
I feel like my life is at an important crossroads. If I keep going forward I feel my life being Blessed abundantly. But this little fleshy desire to backtrack is on my shoulder. Please keep me in your prayers that I choose what I know I need to choose.
Thanks.
What to do with the Lemons in Life July 28, 2009
Posted by crystalcraven in Inspirational.Tags: Depression, Divorce, Jesus, lemonade, lemons, life, Struggles, Trials
comments closed
In the Shower a little while ago, a new quote came to my mind. Well you know the old quote that says, When life hands you lemons make lemonade. Well I have thought about the purpose of my life and how God uses our struggles to teach us things and most importantly to teach others going through similar struggles how to get through it and I came up with:
When Life hands you lemons don’t just make lemonade but Share the recipe
Basically In life we all go through our own trials, struggles and hardships. God doesn’t place those things in our lives but sometimes in our own foolishness we place them before ourselves but that is another blog post for another time the thing I want to drive home today is this: We go through things sure, But if we are walking in Faith we have the confidence to know we will get through it. We also will become more sympathetic towards others struggling through the same things as we have struggled through and maybe can lend some insight on how to overcome it and to just support them and to let them know that if we got through it they can too. Sometimes that is all some may need is just the knowledge that they are not alone and it can be done.
I know I have struggled through many battles and the moment I reached out to people and found people who had went through similar things I felt a since of relief and had a greater ability to keep holding on for a brighter day and that I too could get over it. As Christians, We need to be open about our past struggles that we overcame to those that are going through similar experiences. To not reach out in my opinion is not letting God use you effectively
